r spine, and the wolf's haunting howl that had sliced through the gala. Every time she glanced

d to be just another networking event, but tonight, nothing felt ordinary. She t

ce close enough to make the

ind," a low, smoo

s dark eyes fixed on her, unreadable but intense. Her

ment," she said, forcing

faintest smile tugging at hi

uld she reveal? "From... t

drifted toward the far side of the terrace, where the moonlight barely touched the shadows.

ought she saw movement - a shadow slipping

et hers again.

she asked, he

air," he said softly. "Not ev

what he meant, but the words caught. Instead,

hat made her skin tingle. Goosebumps rose. Her memory of the wolf's howl from jus

r pulse race. "Stay alert," he murmured, voice low, almost

hoed from the far edge of the terrace - a faint click

rp and precise. "Exactly what I meant

, every subtle movement hinted at a danger she could barely understand. And yet, something a

ng into a blur. One thing was certain: nothing about